XNA was built about ten years ago—largely due to the urging and political influence of Wal-Mart. It's probably fair to say that the airport would not exist if Wal-Mart hadn't pushed for it. Remember that Arkansas Democrat who occupied the White House in the 1990s? NW Arkansas had political horsepower in spades.

The headline on the newspaper's web site alludes to that horsepower: "Forcing the airline's hand? : Wal-Mart considers more flights from Tulsa."

Airlines don't care what market they sell the seat in. What matters, from the airline's point-of-view, is that the seat is sold. Doesn't make any difference if it's sold at XNA or Tulsa. The economics driving the airline's fare structure is simple: they charge higher fares in smaller markets because there's less competition and a smaller supply of seats. Those rules of airline/airport economics are something that Wal-Mart can't change.